Lens system



Jul 22 1924.

W. B. WESCOTT LENS SYSTEM aligns.

6 J2 l 1 w z m e .n s O 2 WU 6 A. l 9 l l. 1 t D e S d e l 1 F l a n 1 g i r O lWJJertio r July 22 1924.

W. B. WESCOTT LENS SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 2 SKeets-Sheet 2 a a F .7 m w i a e a w\ l w z 0 6 7 l J 5 m4 1 w t 8 n WWW. y l A M; fl 6 1 y ,fi 2: M i M 1 7% u n J 6 M m L .4 m 1 H Z m M W .1 \w xw/// KKA Patented July 22, 19240 WILLIAM; BURTON WESCOTT, F WELLESLE'Y, HASSAGHUSETTS, ASSIGIQ'GR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 TECHNICQLUR MOTION PICTURE GORPURATION, UP 305- TQN, MASSAGEUSETTS, A CORPGRATION 0F MAINE.

LENS SYSTEM.

Original application filed September 11, 1916, Serial No. 118,377. Divided and this application filed April 25,1921. Serial No. 464,206..

T 0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM B. Wnsoorr, citizen of the United States of America, and resident of VVellesley, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have in vented new and useful Improvements in Lens Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to photographic cameras and more particularly to motion picture cameras, this being a division of my 'prior application Serial No. 119,377, filed September 11, 1916, which matured into Patent No. 1,383,357 on July 5, 1921.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved optical arrangement for cameras and the like and more particularly to provide means whereby the same lens may be pleadily shifted into either of two optical at s.

p Other objects attained by my invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forward portion of a camera embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same, parts being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation oi: the same, intgrior parts being shown by dotted lines; an

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

For the purpose of illustration 1 have shown the invention applied to a motion picture camera comprising a box B of ordinary construction having a cover C pivoted to the top of the box to swing upwardly. The box is divided into two compartments by the partition P, which carries most of the camera mechanism on its front and rear sides. Members 1 are secured to the front of the partition and coo erate with slotted bayonet catches 2 mounte on the inside of the cover. The upper and lower pairs of bayonet members 2, respectively, are connected together by members 3 provided with teeth l forming a rack cooperating with the pinion 5 which is controlled by a handle 6 on the outside of the cover. The members 1 projecting from the front of the partition are provided with heads 7 arranged to be engaged by the bayonet members 2 whereby the cover may besecurely and accurately locked in position relative to the camera box, thus positioning the lenses' carried by the cover in accurate alinement with the film gate openings. Members 8 secured to the cover by means of screws 9 are provided to form guides for the reciprocating rack members 3. The box B is provided with a tongue 11 extending around the front edge which cooperates with a groove 12- on the cover to form a light tight connection between the box and. the cover.

As shown iii Figs. 1 and 2, the hinge mechanism H for pivotally connecting the cover C with the box B comprises slots 25 in the hinge member 26- cooperating with screws 27 threaded into plate 28', which, in turn, is screwed to the box B. The screws 27' have shoulders contacting with plate 28 whereby the heads of the screws maybe so, positioned as to permit the hinge member 26' to slide freely thereunder. When the cover G is locked into position with relation to the box B by the locking means above described, the pin and slot connection permits the cover to move bodily to or from the box; Thus, inasmuch as the cover. may

be accurately positioned and rigidly maintained in. position by the locking means alone, the hinges need not be made with a. great degree of precision. Furthermore,

when the box and cover are made of wood, ,shrinkage and expansion of these parts are likely to occur and the pin and slot connection provides for such contingency. Cushioning mechanism S, as shown in Fig. 2, may beprovided to prevent the cover from being too quickly closed, .e as for" example, from.

being violently closed by gravity. Suitable mechanism for this purpose comprises members 13 and 14 respectively secured to the cover and box and having pivoted thereto arms 15 and 16 which are pivoted together- 17, the pivotal connection 17 being surrounded by a coil spring 18 cooperating with the arms 15 and 16.

The shutter mechanism com rising shutters 121 and 122 and the parts or operating the same are described in detail in my pending application, Serial No. d6 i- 295, filed on even date herewith. Since this mechanism forms no'part of the present invention, description thereof is omitted.

According to the resent inventionmeans is provided for shifting a lens into either of two optical paths. Thus in the illustrated embodiment a single lens is employed at times as the main image forming means and at other times as an auxiliary image formingmeans for the finderv mechanism. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the optical paths of the camera and the finder have respective parallel portionsarranged adjacent to each otherand at these adjacent portions I preferably mount the camera lens so that it can be rotated into alinement either with the light-dividing means LDcomprising a part of the main optical path or with the totally deflecting prism P comprising means to reflect light to the finder F. Suitable means for changing the position of the .lens comrises a turret-T rotatably mounted in bearmg 182 havin light-tight packing 183. The

turret has a t readed opening 184 to receive the lens and a partition 185 on the rear central portion thereof coo crating with a member 186 to preventlig is from passing between the main chamber 187 and the auxiliary chamber 188 when the turret is in either operative position, the partition 185 occupying substantially the position shown 1n the drawin s when the lens is in alinement necaore ing, a rotatable member mounted in said with each of said paths, and means for locking the turret in adjusted position.

3. Photographic apparatus comprising alight-tight casing having two optical paths therewithin, portions of which extend in parallelism into a chamber, said casing havmg an opening before said chamber, a turret rotatably mounted in said opening in lighttight engagement with the casing, a lens on said turret movable therewith into alignment i with either path, and a partition member on said turret extendin into said chamber to prevent light admitted y the lens to one path from reaching the other.

4. Motion picture apparatus comprising a casing supporting a part of the optical system, a cover for said casing supporting a part of the optical system, means for rigidly positioning said cover relative to said casing with the said parts of said optical system in accurate alinement, and means for connecting said cover to said casing whereby said cover may be both turned andreciprocated relative to said casing.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 18th day of April, 1921. 1 7

WILLIAM BURTON WESCQTT. 

